Connecticut gun control advocates optimistic

NEW HAVEN -- With less than two weeks to go before the General Assembly session convenes, several legislators are recommending gun control reform packages in response to the Newtown massacre.

The regular session convenes Jan. 9.

State Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, D-New Haven, said Wednesday he will introduce a comprehensive package to foster more accountability when it comes to guns.

"This coming session there will probably be several different versions of a gun control bill to start with," Holder-Winfield said.

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"We have to have a conversation of what people want to support," he said. "I think my proposal is comprehensive and will be a huge part of the discussion,"

Holder-Winfield said he will likely propose these reform measures: requiring mandatory reporting of all firearms thefts, limiting bulk purchases of firearms, requiring record retention on all firearms, closing the gun show loophole, a permit requirement for ammunition purchases, instituting an assault weapon single feature test, and a large capacity magazine ban.

Last week, state Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford, and state Rep. Bob Godfrey, D-Danbury, unveiled their proposal, which will include a permit requirement to purchase ammunition, a heavy tax on bullets and firearms magazines, and new rules to regulate the round capacity of permitted guns.

The two also want to expand the definition of assault weapons, which would cover the Bushmaster .223 M4 carbine rifle used to kill 20 children and six staff members at the Newtown school.

But Holder-Winfield said there needs to be a system in place to keep track of firearms.

"The current law does not require one to report their firearm if it is lost or stolen, we have to change that," Holder-Winfield said. "And we need to know why are people purchasing large sums of firearms, is there a reason that someone would be using firearms other than for self-defense, target practice, or hunting?"

Loopholes in the system can cause firearms to reach the wrong hands.

"Right now one can go to a gun show and purchase a weapon and (they) don't have to follow certain rules or background checks," he said. "So I will be proposing tougher gun laws at gun shows to help prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands and doing serious damage."

Even before the Newtown shooting, Holder-Winfield said a bill to ban large capacity magazines was proposed last year.

"In 2011 Sen. Gary Lebeau (D-East Hartford) proposed a bill on a ban of large capacity magazines, but gun advocates and others showed up in opposition to the bill and it never left committee," Holder-Winfield said.

Last year, state Sen. Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, also proposed banning the purchase of ammunition by anyone who is not also legally authorized to possess a firearm.

The National Rifle Association opposes new gun regulations, and called for police officers in schools.

Holder-Winfield said he has always been a person for gun control, but thinks after the Newtown tragedy it may have a chance.

"I'm optimistic, although I'm getting hundreds of emails telling me to not change the law, I think now after the tragedy we have more of a shot for reform," he said.

With regards to inner city gun violence and homicides, Holder-Winfield said government needs to look at how illegal guns are being trafficked in the inner city. There have been 17 homicides in New Haven to date this year.

"Illegal guns have always been a problem in the inner city and if guns come from suburbia or a gun is stolen or given to a person for an exchange, the legal owner of that gun should be accountable with a fine or jailed," he said. "If you can't keep track of your firearm, you shouldn't have one."